Adrian didn't think saying it would matter.
Not really.
He had already written it.
Thought about it.
Accepted it in his head.
But saying something out loud—
That was different.
And he didn't realize how much it mattered until it actually happened.
—
The day started normally.
Adrian woke up, got ready, and went downstairs.
No hesitation.
No pause.
He walked straight into the dining room and sat down.
"Morning," Nico said.
"…Morning," Adrian replied.
Dante glanced at him.
"You're getting predictable."
Adrian shrugged.
"…That's not a bad thing."
Dante smirked.
"Didn't say it was."
Marco didn't say anything, but his eyes stayed on Adrian for a second longer than usual.
Adrian noticed.
But it didn't make him uncomfortable.
—
Breakfast went on like usual.
Noise.
Conversation.
Small arguments.
Normal.
Adrian reached for something again, passing it to Alessio without thinking.
"Thanks," Alessio said.
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
It was simple.
But it wasn't forced.
Nothing about it felt forced anymore.
—
At school, Adrian met Mira at the entrance again.
"You're early," she said.
Adrian shrugged.
"…So are you."
She smiled slightly.
"You always say that."
Adrian didn't respond.
He just started walking.
She walked beside him.
After a few steps, she said,
"You look like you slept well."
Adrian nodded.
"…I did."
"That's new."
Adrian thought about it.
"…Yeah."
—
During class, everything went smoothly.
Adrian followed along.
Answered questions.
Helped someone again.
Even made a small comment that got a few people to laugh.
That surprised him.
Not because it was funny.
But because he said it without thinking too much.
Without holding back.
After class, Mira looked at him.
"You're talking more."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"…I guess."
"It suits you," she said.
Adrian didn't know what to say to that.
So he just nodded.
"…Okay."
—
At lunch, things were the same.
Easy.
Simple.
Adrian sat down with Alessio, and Mira joined them.
"You're different today," she said again.
Adrian sighed slightly.
"…You say that every day."
"Because it keeps happening," she replied.
Adrian shook his head.
"…I think I'm just… normal now."
Mira tilted her head slightly.
"Were you not before?"
Adrian paused.
Then said,
"…Not like this."
Alessio watched him carefully.
But didn't interrupt.
—
After school, Adrian didn't feel like leaving immediately.
He stayed near the gate again.
Mira stood beside him.
"You're staying again," she said.
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
"Why?"
Adrian thought about it.
"…I don't feel like rushing anymore."
Mira smiled slightly.
"That's a good reason."
Adrian didn't disagree.
—
Back at the mansion, something small happened.
But it mattered.
Adrian walked into the living room.
Nico and Dante were there like always.
Marco was sitting nearby.
Adrian didn't stop at the entrance.
He didn't hesitate.
He just walked in and sat down.
"You're making this a habit," Dante said.
Adrian shrugged.
"…Yeah."
Nico glanced at him.
"You're too comfortable now."
Adrian looked at him.
"…Is that a problem?"
Nico shook his head.
"No. Just weird."
Adrian didn't respond.
But he didn't pull back either.
—
Later that evening, they were all in the same room.
Not doing anything important.
Just there.
Talking.
Arguing.
Existing.
Adrian sat quietly for a while, listening.
Then, without really planning it—
He spoke.
"…I think I like it here."
The room went quiet.
Not for long.
But enough.
Everyone heard it.
Adrian didn't look up immediately.
He didn't take it back.
He just sat there.
Marco was the first to respond.
"…Good."
His voice was calm.
Simple.
But steady.
Nico leaned back slightly.
"Took you long enough."
Dante smirked.
"Yeah, we figured."
Alessio didn't say anything at first.
Adrian looked at him.
Alessio met his gaze.
"…Yeah," he said. "We know."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
That was it.
No big reaction.
No questions.
No pressure.
And somehow—
That made it more real.
—
Later that night, Adrian went to his room.
He sat on his bed, staring at the floor for a moment.
Then leaned back slightly.
"…I said it," he muttered.
Out loud.
Not just in his head.
Not just in his notebook.
Out loud.
And nothing bad happened.
No one reacted in a way that made him uncomfortable.
No one questioned him.
They just accepted it.
Like it was normal.
Like it was expected.
He reached for his notebook and opened it.
He wrote—
I said it out loud
He paused.
Then added—
No one made it a big thing
Another pause.
Then—
That made it easier
He stared at the words for a moment.
Then leaned back slightly.
"…It's real," he said quietly.
Not just in his head anymore.
Not just something he was getting used to.
But something he had accepted.
Something he had said.
And something that stayed.
—
When he lay down that night, he didn't think about whether things would change.
He didn't think about what could go wrong.
He didn't think about the past.
He thought about what he said.
And how it felt.
"…I like it here," he repeated quietly.
And this time—
There was no hesitation.
No doubt.
Just truth.
And for the first time—
That truth felt steady enough to last.